Wednesday, February 12, 2014

After losing the man she loved, Jade McKinley left Chapel Springs as a
way of protecting her heart. She never expected to return until the
unthinkable happens. She finds herself pregnant, no money and pretty
much alone. Her only choice is to return to Chapel Springs. Daniel
Dawson is the mayor of Chapel Springs and is practically a McKinley
family member. With his dad being in politics and the extensive
traveling his parents have always done, Daniel didn't have much of a
home life, other than with his grandma and the McKinley's. Jade has
always thought of Daniel like a brother but Daniel began to notice Jade
had grown into a beautiful woman. He has loved her from afar for years
but knows that that love can never be. Then she returns home and he
finds his feelings haven't changed. In fact, they're stronger than
before. Jade is trying to find her footing but it's proving difficult,
especially when she seems to be having some strange,
not-so-brotherly-type feelings toward Daniel. What is she going to do
and how does Daniel fit into the picture?

Dancing with Fireflies
is one of those stories that lingers in your mind long after you close
the book. You learn a little about Jade and Daniel in 'Barefoot Summer'
but here you really get to see who they are. Jade is a sweet,
free-spirited person who has experienced a lot of heartache. Daniel was a
hero that's easy to love. His easy-going ways just draw you in. When
you have a longtime-friendship-brother-sister relationship, switching
gears gets complicated. The author did a great job of laying the ground
work and I would definitely call it sweet torture. I loved the spiritual
message of relying on God especially in the difficult times. We're
reminded that times of trouble can cause us to turn from or toward God. I
love what Jade's mother told her, "The same sun that burns a shallow
rooted plant will nourish a deeply rooted one." Wow! A wonderful
reminder that we need to be deeply rooted in the Lord so when troubles
arise we won't get burned. Though this is an emotional read, you will
find relief with humorous moments. Daniel and Jade were both full of
personality and it was fun watching their playful moments together. You
could read this as a stand alone and not feel lost, but I highly
recommend you read Barefoot Summer first for a richer reading
experience. So how does it all turn out? I recommend you head on over to
Chapel Springs and see what 'Dancing with Fireflies' is all about.

This complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, February 7, 2014

Madison McKinley seems to have it all. She loves her job as a
veterinarian and she's part of a very loving and supportive family, that
everyone loves. Though Madison is grateful she still struggles to put
her twins death (from years ago) behind her. She can't sleep from a
recurring nightmare and it's affecting her life and her job. Madison
thinks if she can win the upcoming Regatta race and fulfill her
brother's dream, that the nightmares will disappear. She must first
learn to sail though. Beckett O'Reilly has always loved Madison but
knows she would never look at someone like him. He's changed from the
troublemaker he was in high school but his family hasn't. Madison will
do anything to win this race, even if it means working with Beckett. But
as they work together there is a chemistry between them that cannot be
denied. Beckett carries a secret though that could change everything.
Can their new romance find strength in adversity or will it fade into
the sunset? Will Madison find the peace she seeks in fulfilling her
bother's dream?

What a great start to the Chapel Springs Series
and might I say I love the cover! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know
all the folks and by the end of the book you really feel like you're
good friends and can't wait to return. Beckett O'Reilly was such a great
guy. He related to Madison so beautifully despite his own problems.
Madison was easy to relate to. You can totally understand her feelings
and emotions. Together they were great and I loved sharing their moments
with them. The author did a beautiful job of covering a lot of family
difficulties with grace and truth, but the most difficult was the death
of a loved one. Just about everyone has faced that at some point and I
loved what Madison's mother told Madison. "Life is a gift, however long
it lasts. It's God's to give and take away as He sees fit. We go through
life thinking we're entitled to our ninety, but we're not entitled to
anything. All we can do is trust that He knows what He's doing. That He
has a plan for all of us and that no pain He allows in our life will go
unused." WOW, what powerful and comforting words. Now don't get me
wrong, there are lots of playful moments to this story as well. It
maintained that delicate balance which is so pleasing to the reader.
Bottom line here is that you'll fall in love with the folks of Chapel
Springs, I know I did. So if you're feeling the need to get away from
the cold weather, I recommend you sail away to Chapel Springs for a
Barefoot Summer!

As a side note, "A December Bride" is Layla
O'Reilly's story (Beckett's sister). "Dancing with Fireflies" is Jade
McKinley's story which I am looking forward to reading next.

I'm a mom to three grown boys, a daughter-in-love and wife of 30 years to a great guy. I love coffee and reading and reviewing books. I am what you might call a "bookaholic". (Even more than that...a Kindleholic!) I also love to shop the thrift stores for interesting treasures! I appreciate the authors I know and love but I also like finding new authors and making new author friends.

Please feel free to contact me if you have a question, a comment or are interested in having me review a book for you. (I review Inspirational/Christian Fiction).

love2stitch @ hotmail . comorlove2readnovels @ yahoo . com

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I do not get paid or receive any monetary compensation for any posts or reviews on this blog. The books I review are either given to me by the publisher, the author, purchased by me, won in contests, borrowed from a friend or the library. The opinions expressed are solely my own.